Protective suit

ABSTRACT

A protective suit with a suit part with suit material ( 4 ) and provided with a foot part ( 2 ). The foot part is formed of an elastomer with ergonomic fit and is connected to the suit material ( 4 ) in one piece. The foot part ( 2 ) may be manufactured according to a dipping method. The foot part may be formed of a chemical-resistant fluoroelastomer such as Viton, Viton/butyl, chloroprene and butyl materials. The one-piece connection between the foot part ( 2 ) and the suit material ( 4 ) may be prepared by sewing, welding or by a clamped connection. A bonding agent may be provided for connecting the foot part ( 2 ) to the suit material ( 4 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Application DE 20 2005 006 925.6 filed Apr. 30, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a protective suit, preferably a chemical protective suit or hazardous material protective suit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One-part or two-part protective suits are known, which are made of elastomer composites. Composite films, which are welded together, are used as the materials for the suit. Corresponding film sections are prepared for this purpose, and they are later composed and welded together to form the suit. The protective suit also extends over the feet of the user of the suit.

A protective suit of this type has become known from DE 33 09 479 A1. The prior-art protective suit is of a one-part design, which encloses both the hands and the feet. An opening is provided on the front side for entering into the suit. Since the protective suit must be coordinated with the maximum shoe size of the user of the suit in the area of the feet, the material of the suit will normally lie only loosely at the feet. To take up the excess material of the suit, it is therefore necessary to wear boots, which are about 3 to 4 sizes larger than the actual size of the foot. In addition, the suit material has poor wear properties in the area of the feet due to the formation of folds and the limited flexibility as a consequence of the thickness of the material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The basic object of the present invention is to improve a protective suit in terms of its wear properties in the area of the foot part.

According to the invention, a protective suit is provided with a suit part of a suit material and with a foot part. The foot part is formed of an elastomer with ergonomic fit and is connected to the suit material in one piece.

The foot part may advantageously be manufactured according to a dipping method. The foot part may be formed of a chemical-resistant fluoroelastomer such as Viton, Viton/butyl, chloroprene and butyl materials.

The one-piece connection between the foot part and the suit material may be prepared by sewing, welding or by a clamped connection. A bonding agent may be provided for connecting the foot part to the suit material.

The advantage of the present invention is essentially that the foot part consists of an elastomer, which is manufactured in an ergonomic fit, which comes into contact with the suit user's foot without forming folds. The foot part is connected to the suit material in one piece, so that no gases or liquids can penetrate into the protective suit from the outside at the connection point. Suitable types of connection between the suit material and the foot part are sewing, welding or the application of a clamped connection. Bonding is advantageously carried out with a bonding agent because of material incompatibilities. An especially good fit is obtained if the foot part is manufactured according to the dipping method.

Suitable materials for the foot part are chemical-resistant fluoroelastomers. Preferred materials are Viton, Viton/butyl, chloroprene and butyl. A foot part made of butyl elastomer advantageously has a Shore hardness of 35±10 Shore.

Due to the foot part manufactured in an ergonomic fit, the user of the suit can now wear boots which are up to two sizes larger than the actual foot size. The mobility of the user of the suit also improves as a result.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in the figure and will be explained in greater detail below along with alternative embodiments. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a protective suit with a foot part; and

FIG. 2 is a detail view showing detail A of the protective suit according to FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in particular, FIG. 1 shows a one-part protective suit 1 with a foot part 2 as well as a suit part with an upper body portion and a lower body portion having leg portions. The suit part comprises a suit material 4.

FIG. 2 illustrates detail A of the protective suit 1 according to FIG. 1. The foot part 2 is formed of a butyl elastomer manufactured according to a dipping method. The foot part 2 is welded with the suit material 4 of the protective suit 1 at a connection point 3. A cylindrical cover film 5 is also connected to the suit material 4 and covers the connection point 3.

The foot part is connected to the suit material in one piece, so that no gases or liquids can penetrate into the protective suit from the outside at the connection point. Besides welding other suitable types of connection between the suit material 4 and the foot part 2 are sewing or the application of a clamped connection. Bonding may also be carried out with a bonding agent because of material incompatibilities. An especially good fit is obtained if the foot part is manufactured according to the dipping method.

Suitable materials for the foot part are chemical-resistant fluoroelastomers. Preferred materials are Viton, Viton/butyl, chloroprene and butyl. A foot part made of butyl elastomer advantageously has a Shore hardness of 35±10 Shore.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. 

1. A protective suit comprising: a suit part with suit material; and a foot part formed of an elastomer with ergonomic fit connected to the suit material in one piece.
 2. A protective suit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said foot part is manufactured according to a dipping method to form the elastomer.
 3. A protective suit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said foot part consists of a chemical-resistant fluoroelastomer.
 4. A protective suit in accordance with claim 3, wherein the chemical-resistant fluoroelastomer is one or more of Viton, Viton/butyl, chloroprene and butyl.
 5. A protective suit in accordance with claim 1, wherein a one-piece connection between said foot part and said suit material is prepared by sewing, welding or by a clamped connection.
 6. A protective suit in accordance with claim 1, wherein a bonding agent is provided for connecting said foot part to said suit material.
 7. A protective suit comprising: a suit part with an upper body portion and a lower body portion having legs, said suit part being formed of a protective suit material; and a foot part formed of an elastomer with ergonomic fit contours, said foot part being connected to the suit material at the legs along a connection region to form an annular fluid tight connection at each leg.
 8. A protective suit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said foot part is manufactured according to a dipping method to form a dipped structure defining said elastomer.
 9. A protective suit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said foot part consists of a chemical-resistant fluoroelastomer.
 10. A protective suit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said foot part is formed of one or more of Viton, Viton/butyl, chloroprene and butyl.
 11. A protective suit in accordance with claim 7, wherein each annular fluid tight connection between said foot part and a respective said leg is prepared by sewing, welding or by a clamped connection.
 12. A protective suit in accordance with claim 7, wherein each annular fluid tight connection between said foot part and a respective said leg is provided with a bonding agent provided for connecting said foot part to said suit material.
 13. A method of providing a protective suit comprising: providing a suit part with an upper body portion and a lower body portion having legs, said suit part being formed of a protective suit material; and forming a foot part of an elastomer with ergonomic fit contours for the user; connecting the foot part to the suit material at the legs along a connection region to form an annular fluid tight connection at each leg.
 14. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein said foot part is manufactured according to a dipping method to form a dipped structure defining said elastomer.
 15. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein said foot part consists of a chemical-resistant fluoroelastomer.
 16. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein said foot part is formed of one or more of Viton, Viton/butyl, chloroprene and butyl.
 17. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein each annular fluid tight connection between said foot part and a respective said leg is prepared by sewing, welding or by a clamped connection.
 18. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein each annular fluid tight connection between said foot part and a respective said leg is provided with a bonding agent provided for connecting said foot part to said suit material. 